The Law

Romans 7:4-6 NLT
(4) So, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the point: You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ. And now you are united with the One who was raised from the dead. As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God.
(5) When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death.
(6) But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.

I have been guilty of looking at the law the wrong way. When I fail to live according to God's Word the thing that is on my mind the most was the fact that I broke God's law and I am condemned by it but if I truly died to the law and was raised from the dead with Christ Jesus then the law no longer condemns me.

Jesus said that He did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets but instead came to accomplish their purpose (Matthew 5:7). If that is the case what used to condemn because of the sin within me now once again points me back to Christ Jesus, as it was originally intended and that was what Jesus meant when He said that He came to accomplish the purpose of the law.

For too long the devil has used the law for his own means, trying to pull me out of the hands of my Savior but inside I knew this was wrong but felt I had no ground to stand on and because I judged others the same way therefore I too was condemned but no longer. Now this doesn't mean I have a free pass to live however I want but instead because of this great love inside of me for Jesus my one desire is to please Him in all things, again the law is fulfilled because of the work Jesus has done and at the same time He has canceled out the snare of the enemy. I am truly a new creature in Christ Jesus, old things have passed away and new things have come!

2 Corinthians 5:17-19 NLT
(17) This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
(18) And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to Himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to Him.
(19) For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. And He gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.

What Motivates Us

James 1:9-12 NLT
(9) Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them.
(10) And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field.
(11) The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements.
(12) God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

Is it financial wealth and possessions that drives us to do what we do? What about power and influence over others, deep down does that make us feel good at the end of the day? I read that no matter how great our achievements if it is not done for the Lord then it will all die with us when we pass from this life and though we think those achievements can be used as tokens when we stand before our Creator we will find only bitter disappointment because we have spent our lives chasing the wrong things.

If we truly believe God know all and sees all and that He really loves us then why wouldn't we obey His commandments? If my motivation is money or possessions then I have separated myself from a relationship with God and know nothing of Him. I then have effectively pulled away from Him not the other way around. The rich man asks where is God in times of trouble while his fists are clinched to his achievements and money, somehow hoping they will save him. It is not easy trusting in the unseen but that is faith and faith is required of us if we are to please our Heavenly Father.

You see it is not by my strength that I endure all the tests life throws at me but my strength comes from having relationship with my Savior, regardless of what others think, say, or do. It is too often too easy for someone not understanding the trial your going through to offer a solution because they think too highly of themselves and fail to realize, like you, just how dependent they really are. Like the teenager who brags to all his friends how independent he is but has not yet ventured out on his own, some never leave home. And like that teenager there are many spiritual teens who like to brag how well they're doing but fail to realize it's because of the protection of the Father.

Like a good father God also moves us toward maturity through trials and tribulations, not that He sends the test but that He pulls back His wing of protection enough for us to understand just how much we need Him but make no mistake the temptation is just that because of the evil desires within our own hearts. God allows us to see who we are as we grow closer to Him and as we come face-to-face with our own depravity there are ample opportunities to fear but James tells us this...

James 1:2-5 NLT
(2) Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.
(3) For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
(4) So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
(5) If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

It is God's good pleasure to help us through, as we look to Him but should we depend on something apart from Him the result is clear.

James 1:6-8 NLT
(6) But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.
(7) Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
(8) Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

The Shrinking Army

Judges 7:4-7 NLT
(4) But the LORD told Gideon, "There are still too many! Bring them down to the spring, and I will test them to determine who will go with you and who will not."
(5) When Gideon took his warriors down to the water, the LORD told him, "Divide the men into two groups. In one group put all those who cup water in their hands and lap it up with their tongues like dogs. In the other group put all those who kneel down and drink with their mouths in the stream."
(6) Only 300 of the men drank from their hands. All the others got down on their knees and drank with their mouths in the stream.
(7) The LORD told Gideon, "With these 300 men I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Send all the others home."

Have you ever felt your list of friends get shorter as God leads you into a deeper understanding of what He wants to do in your life? The response of many would be that of defense but it is true. It doesn’t mean those who are unable to follow aren’t friends, some you would even consider close, it just means God says that they can’t go where you are going. Like Gideon the first group that went home before the battle began was 22,000. This group was allowed to leave because they feared for their lives and after that 10,000 remained but God said there were still too many so He tested them. After the test only 300 hundred warriors remained, the other 9,700 were indeed warriors and were ready to fight but God did not choose them. In the same way there are casual friends (the group of 22,000) who are scared of the places God leads you and there are friends who would go into battle by your side but God says they cannot go where you are going (the 9,700) but God has reserved a remnant that will work with you side by side until the victory is revealed. Your job is to allow God to do the selecting, trusting that He knows what He is doing. It’s not an easy process as I am sure Gideon watched a lot of people leave that he didn’t want to let go of but he chose to trust God. The 10,000 weren’t the only ones tested for Gideon’s test was the most difficult but did you notice the relationship between Gideon and the Lord? That’s where each of us needs to be if we are to ever hear God lead us into battle.

A similar situation happened to me recently. I do not think any less of this friend from my youth but have high regards for him. In typical fashion I needed to know it was God that I was following and three times a test came and three times God said no. I do not understand what God has planned but I do trust Him completely and I pray that He shapes me and molds me into the person He has purposed for me to be. 

To Fight Fear

To fight fear three things are required: Know who God is, be obedient to His call, and trust Him. It is that simple but those three things are the most difficult things to you’ll ever do.

Genesis 22:9-14 NLT
(9) When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood.
(10) And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice.
(11) At that moment the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Yes," Abraham replied. "Here I am!"
(12) "Don't lay a hand on the boy!" the angel said. "Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from Me even your son, your only son."
(13) Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son.
(14) Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means "the LORD will provide"). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."

Here we see first of all Abraham had relationship with God and he communed with God and God with him. What does that look like for us? It begins in our hearts, our hearts hunger to know more about who God is and then the Holy Spirit of God leads us to pray. Asking that He reveal more of Himself to us and we take the time to open the Word of God and we pray for understanding. God is faithful and if we seek Him our understanding of who He is will grow. That is the first step of conquering fear.

Matthew 14:24-30 NLT
(24) Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.
(25) About three o'clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water.
(26) When the disciples saw Him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, "It's a ghost!"
(27) But Jesus spoke to them at once. "Don't be afraid," He said. "Take courage. I am here! "
(28) Then Peter called to Him, "Lord, if it's really You, tell me to come to You, walking on the water."
(29) "Yes, come," Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.
(30) But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. "Save me, Lord!" he shouted.

Like Peter we do many things wrong as followers of Christ Jesus but he was the only one willing to trust Jesus while the others were filled with fear. For all Peter has been criticized for he got this one right in that he was obedient to God’s call for him to step out of the boat. It was only after he took his eyes off of Jesus and looked at the circumstances surrounding him that he began to sink.

Jonah 2:1-10 NLT
(1) Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from inside the fish.
(2) He said, "I cried out to the LORD in my great trouble, and He answered me. I called to You from the land of the dead, and LORD, You heard me!
(3) You threw me into the ocean depths, and I sank down to the heart of the sea. The mighty waters engulfed me; I was buried beneath Your wild and stormy waves.
(4) Then I said, 'O LORD, You have driven me from Your presence. Yet I will look once more toward Your holy Temple.'
(5) "I sank beneath the waves, and the waters closed over me. Seaweed wrapped itself around my head.
(6) I sank down to the very roots of the mountains. I was imprisoned in the earth, whose gates lock shut forever. But You, O LORD my God, snatched me from the jaws of death!
(7) As my life was slipping away, I remembered the LORD. And my earnest prayer went out to You in Your holy Temple.
(8) Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God's mercies.
(9) But I will offer sacrifices to You with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the LORD alone."
(10) Then the LORD ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach.

Though Jonah tried to run from God he knew deep within there was no escaping God’s call on his life. He then told the sailors to toss him into the sea and the storm would cease and it did. However for Jonah he had to learn his lesson in the belly of the great fish but even then Jonah could hear the call of God on his life. In the midst of his desperation Jonah stopped trying to run from God and decided the best thing to do was to instead trust God. I believe the moment he had experienced a true heart change the fish spit him out on dry land.

As God’s people we are not perfect and even in the midst of our failures, if we know Him, we can hear His call on our lives. That can either bring great misery or great joy but that depends on our willingness to trust and obey Him. In all three of these accounts fear had to be overcome; it wasn’t overcome by running away but instead running to God and in turn God was glorified through that individual for all the world to see! You want to do something big for God, you want to tear down the walls fear has built in your life, then know God, be obedient to His call, and trust Him in all things.

Bread from Heaven

Exodus 16:4 NLT
(4) Then the LORD said to Moses, "Look, I'm going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day. I will test them in this to see whether or not they will follow My instructions."

So God brought you out of Egypt, freeing you from your bondage but all you can think about was how good you had it then. Without knowing it your thoughts have blinded you from the miracles that surround you now and change, even though it is good, feels like the enemy. It seems unimaginable but the Israelites own thoughts were leading them down a path of destruction but at any moment all they had to do was look up to see what God had provided for them and accept the challenge to be different. Strangely enough there was a comfort in being a victim because your outcome wasn’t your fault but to follow an invisible God into the wilderness who then could you point your finger at if things didn’t turn out good? 

Just the thought of failure immobilizes your legs and feet until they feel like cinder blocks and your thoughts begin to overwhelm you with ideas of returning to the way things once were. Fortunately, unknown by you God has a plan much like the Promised Land waited for the Israelites but to reach it you have to take your eyes off of yourself and look to Jesus and even though you may want what God wants your flesh will fight you every step of the way, even to the point of being self-destructive. Yes your own flesh will sabotage the efforts of the spirit within you all because of the fear of the unknown. The only defense against such behavior is to see and understand your own desperation for God to lead and guide you every step of the way, even when it feels like you’re headed the wrong direction.

Exodus 16:35 NLT
(35) So the people of Israel ate manna for forty years until they arrived at the land where they would settle. They ate manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan.

I don’t want to waste time in the wilderness because I was afraid to trust God fully but even if I do God is faithful to provide until such time when I step foot in the Promised Land.

Not my strength but Yours

I know the popular saying, “if God brought me to this place then He will take me through it.” But it can be misleading. This paints a picture in my mind that I will come out of the storm stronger than before but that is not always the case. Lately, I’ve come to realize that God brings me to the storm so that on the other side I come out broken thus more dependent upon whom He is, not who I am or even hope to be. In every situation where Jesus heals someone we see what is expected – the physical healing but we also see something that isn’t expected – a spiritual connection that speaks to the individual more deeply than anticipated.

Mark 5:18-19 NLT
(18) As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with Him.
(19) But Jesus said, "No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful He has been."

The demon possessed man whom Jesus delivered begged Jesus to go with Him but Jesus said no. What was going through his mind at the time Jesus denied him? I would have been crushed but the Holy Spirit of God gave him power to obey.

Mark 5:33-34 NLT
(33) Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell to her knees in front of Him and told Him what she had done.
(34) And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over."

The woman with the issue of blood was healed by simply touching Jesus’ garment but when Jesus asked who touched Him the woman was frightened knowing Jesus could easily condemn her but trusting that He was good she confessed and God was glorified.

Mark 5:35-36 NLT
(35) While He was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. They told him, "Your daughter is dead. There's no use troubling the Teacher now."
(36) But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid. Just have faith."

The man who’s daughter was dying had to wait on Jesus as He tended to others and when the message came it seemed Jesus was too late but Jesus told him to have faith. What that father went through on the remainder of the journey home is difficult to imagine but once again God’s Holy Spirit enabled him to remain with Jesus and trust Him.

In all these instances there was faith, brokenness, trust, and strength but the strength was not from the individual but from Jesus’ voice and the Holy Spirit. Once we become broken we never forget it but we also never forget God’s ability to bind us together again and what we become on the other side is something previously unobtainable because it didn’t come from us and what binds us now is stronger than if we had never been broken.

Tentmakers

Acts 18:1-3 NLT
(1) Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
(2) There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They had left Italy when Claudius Caesar deported all Jews from Rome.
(3) Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was.

We, being children of God are called to be tentmakers as Paul was for several reasons. First because we are to work for a living, being idle brings about selfishness, laziness, and a judgmental attitude but there is more to it than that.

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 NLT
(10) Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: "Those unwilling to work will not get to eat."
(11) Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people's business.
(12) We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living.

Many pre-Christians today know of someone who refers to themselves as being a “Christian” and the one that acts the least like Christ is usually the one set as the standard by which all other followers of Christ are judged. People do not go to church because they are afraid of being judged or they see the church building as a place that harbors hypocrites. Whatever the reason it’s no wonder the world builds up a defense whenever someone mentions the Bible. The true followers of Christ know this is a snare from the enemy of God so people will turn from the truth and we know that the truth will break their chains of bondage which they so desperately want to be rid of but the question is what do we do about it? Paul used tent making not only to support himself but also to spread the Good News of the Gospel. Though many rejected Jesus as the Christ whom they had not seen they could not reject or deny the change that had taken place in Paul’s life, who was Saul. It was the power of his testimony bearing witness to the change in his life that attracted others to Christ Jesus, even though initially they would have rejected Jesus because of what others had said about him.

All who follow Christ Jesus faithfully are tentmakers in one way or another and we know that we are not to beat pre-Christians over the head with the Bible hoping to see them submit but instead it is by working with them as we make a living, allowing them to watch us live out what it means to be a follower of Christ Jesus, and to offer our testimony as God’s Holy Spirit leads us. As tentmakers we come alongside them and show them the way rather than simply telling them the way. This is the meaning of true leadership, just as those who have gone before us and taught us right from wrong so are we to show the way to others who have not yet believed.

2 Thessalonians 3:13 NLT
(13) As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.

If I am to be Your ambassador

Lord if I am to be Your ambassador please remove this complacency within me. Cause me to be filled with anticipation for the moving of Your Holy Spirit; cause me to come alive and awake my soul. Help me to be aware of Your moving through preparation and study of Your Word, let not my heart grow faint or weary but wholly trust in You. Burn within me Your desires so that I might please You in all I do and say and forgive me when I fall short. I believe You have prepared this path I am on just for me and as I walk it blessings abound but there is more to it than simply being blessed, for You have created purpose in each step I take. I do not know Your plans, only that You said to go. As you prepared Your disciples for the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter two so do You now prepare Your people if they will seek Your face. We know that all these things must happen for Your purpose through us to be complete so that we may prepare for the return of Your Son Jesus the Christ.

Acts 2:17-21 NLT
(17) 'In the last days,' God says, 'I will pour out My Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.
(18) In those days I will pour out My Spirit even on My servants—men and women alike—and they will prophesy.
(19) And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below—blood and fire and clouds of smoke.
(20) The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the LORD arrives.
(21) But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.'

Help me not to be easily beset by the desires of my flesh but strengthen my spirit so my feet may step on solid ground. Help me to live for You with consistency so my faith may grow and ultimately become who You’ve purposed for me to be. As always Lord thank You for Your mercy and grace, for I am nothing without Your love.

Stepping on the Water

Matthew 14:28-30 NLT
(28) Then Peter called to Him, "Lord, if it's really You, tell me to come to You, walking on the water."
(29) "Yes, come," Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.
(30) But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. "Save me, Lord!" he shouted.

How many times I’ve been in this situation with enough faith to step out on the unknown but then finding myself in trouble and calling to Jesus for help? If I can train my eyes to remain on where I want to go (Jesus) and not on the places I don’t want to go (fear) how much better my life would be. 

Those who know about riding motorcycles, as I do, know this unhealthy fear of looking at where you don’t want to go is called “target fixation” and it leads to trouble every time. Go to YouTube and type in the key words “motorcycle target fixation” and watch videos of crashes where for no apparent reason the rider just doesn’t make it out of trouble without serious injury to themselves and their bikes. It happens mostly in curves where the rider sees a tree or parked car on the outside of the curve that they don’t want to hit but do just that instead of simply leaning more to make it through the curve. In the same way we go through life looking at what causes fear instead of keeping our eyes on where we want to go! The Bible gives us another example where the Israelites were complaining about God’s provisions after bringing them out of Egypt, where they lived as slaves.

Numbers 21:4-8 NLT
(4) Then the people of Israel set out from Mount Hor, taking the road to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient with the long journey,
(5) and they began to speak against God and Moses. "Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?" they complained. "There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!"
(6) So the LORD sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died.
(7) Then the people came to Moses and cried out, "We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take away the snakes." So Moses prayed for the people.
(8) Then the LORD told him, "Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!"

It was the act of looking away from their fears that saved them; to be obedient to God’s instructions, realizing they can’t do both ~ follow God’s leading and allow your heart to be filled with fear. A side note the Israelites being led out of bondage in Egypt and being brought to this place where they had to look at an image of a poisonous snake on a pole represents Jesus taking our ugly sin and being lifted up for all to see and if we allow our hearts to be set on Him we would be saved and the bondage of our sin would be broken. 

What happened to the Israelites and Peter and to every other person who learns what it means to follow their hearts in spite of the fear that surrounds them still happens today with us. So don’t become fixated on fear but step out of the boat in faith, not blind faith but a faith in the One Good Shepherd who leads His sheep and keep your eyes on Him. Jesus tells us this…

John 10:27 NLT
(27) My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.

The Gates of Jericho

Has the Lord promised you something but access to it seems unsurmountable? Like Peter stepping out of the boat and starting to sink because doubt began to rush in so too have I missed out on God’s perfect plan because my eyes were in the wrong place. That’s what I love about this story of Joshua and the Israelites; though the walls revealed no cracks no one complained or doubted their purpose, only obedience was shown and victory revealed. 

There was no doubt about who was doing the work, have you ever shouted a wall of stone down to the ground? And there was no doubt about abilities, again because the Israelites knew who was orchestrating this victory. Why does doubt always surround selfishness? The enemy of God is cunning and even if you believe God can do all things if he can get you to question why God would do anything for you, knowing who you are and what you’ve done, then he has won the battle.

One of the key insights to the walls of Jericho coming down was when Joshua told the people everything in Jericho must be destroyed!

Joshua 6:18 NLT
(18) "Do not take any of the things set apart for destruction, or you yourselves will be completely destroyed, and you will bring trouble on the camp of Israel.

I believe faith is hindered when we try to hold onto things that do not honor God and when His Holy Spirit instructs us to come to Him with open hands and an open heart that is exactly what is required of us in order to follow His leading. Sadly, when our faith seems to be in vein we turn from God and never truly discover why we missed the mark. 

Jeremiah 17:9-10 NLT
(9) "The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?
(10) But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve."

So Lord I ask that you search my heart and reveal any wicked ways so that I may come to You and be made clean. May Your Holy Spirit lead and guide me and may You give me strength to step out of the boat. Keep my eyes upon you as the walls before me sometimes seem unsurmountable and if I am blind let it be to the limits of this earthly kingdom, not Yours.

The Lord's Return

James 5:7-8 NLT
(7) Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord's return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen.
(8) You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.

Do you look forward to the returning of the Lord? Is your heart heavy for a place it has not been before? These things point to a life set apart for God’s purpose. Though action is required to prove you are who you claim to be it is the heart that reveals the motive behind the actions. Just as the farmer must plant the fields with his own hands so must you be busy about the Lord’s work and like the farmer who looks forward to the harvest so do those who love God look forward to His return.

So set aside those things that so easily beset you and I pray that God gives you a clearer vision of those things which hold true value, those things that are eternal instead of the temporary. Be glad when trials come your way because we know through these things God will cause us to be the person we are meant to be. In the same way be carefully aware of becoming someone in a position of being served rather than serving others.

James 5:5 NLT
(5) You have spent your years on earth in luxury, satisfying your every desire. You have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter.

God’s righteousness cannot be taken lightly. The Webster dictionary explains righteousness this way, “acting in accord with divine or moral law: free from guilt or sin.” There is only one free from guilt or sin, for we have all fallen short of the glory of God but because of what Jesus has done for us we may also be declared righteous.

Romans 3:23-24 NLT
(23) For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard.
(24) Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins.

Not only must we believe in Him, who He is, and what He has done but we must also have hearts that are turned towards Him and love Him and if we say that we love Him then our hands and feet will be busy about His work until the Lord’s return.

If You Are Wise

James 3:13 NLT
(13) If you are wise and understand God's ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.

There are many today who speak of wisdom as if it is theirs to wield, cutting through ignorance and revealing those who are unable to use it or manipulate it as they do but is that true wisdom? The Creator of life has provided evidence so that each one may know which path is right. Jesus provided the answer in Matthew chapter seven, if we will listen and are hungry for truth. 

Matthew 7:15-17 NLT
(15) Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.
(16) You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
(17) A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.

Sometimes, as strange as it may seem, it is difficult to tell fruit good to consume from fruit that is rotten on the inside. There are many things done in the name of charity but if you dig a little deeper you see they are done out of selfish reasons. Certainly the Pharisees and the religious leaders in Jesus’ day gave to the poor but what was in their hearts at the time of their giving? Was it for the purpose of the eternal or the temporary? Who did this act prosper? Was compassion involved or was it a show used to manipulate those who might be watching? Jesus further explains…

Matthew 6:2 NLT
(2) When you give to someone in need, don't do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get.

You see true wisdom begins with a healthy fear of the awesome God we serve! So in this way when we give to the poor among us we do it because of our reverence and love of the Lord not because we want to be recognized for doing what is right.

Psalms 111:10 NLT
(10) Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey His commandments will grow in wisdom. Praise Him forever!

As a result we grow in understanding and our eyes and ears are opened to things we did not know even existed before, it is then and only then you will be received as a wise person because that is the way the Great Architect of all time has designed it. Not only that but you must live out what has been revealed to you and there lies the battle field. Learning how to listen to the moving of God’s Holy Spirit and reading His Word so that you recognize the character of God becomes enticing and compelling, therefore the deep things of God calls to things even deeper but applying it to one’s own life keeps us in check and well-grounded with the frailty of being human and reminds us of the vast greatness of our God and Savior, yes this is the beginning of true wisdom.

Where is Home...

If home is where the heart is then the question must be asked where is my heart. This world with all its urgencies and headlines seems to take control even without my permission but You O Lord are ever present and in You do I find my refuge! I only need to think of whom You’ve been to me in times of need and it doesn’t take long before the things that have surrounded me fade away into the shadows. Lord it’s been too long, for even if a single day goes by without meeting you I know my heart cries out in the silence of my own desperation. Though my flesh chases after ideals and regulations in order to show it’s worth my soul knows nothing counts unless You’re in it. Please don’t leave me in the mess I’ve made. In the hand of my God is the key that unlocks every door to my heart and You have the ability to melt this heart of stone as if it were wax in the heat of the noonday sun. Lord, open my eyes that I may see the ways within that cause this separation between us and give me the strength to overcome, for You are my home; You are the foundation on which I stand and under Your wing do I find peace from the storm. When the skies darken all I need is one reminder of who You are, for you gently lift my chin and when our eyes meet there is nothing else, You are my all in all. Lord I long for the day I see you with my own eyes and this wonderful faith is replaced with sight but until that day comes I will faithfully run this race and all that entails, for You are the Lord of the Dance and Your presence causes me to overflow with joy. Who but You O Lord knows me inside and out, it doesn’t matter who else knows my story as long as I can walk hand in hand with You! Thank You for undeserved mercy, thank You for unconditional love, and thank You for the purpose You have placed inside this heart O Lord, for in You is my only place of rest.

Mercy

James 2:13 NLT
(13) There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when He judges you.

Why do we ask God for mercy when we make mistakes but have none when someone has failed us? If God’s kindness is to grow and be known throughout the world don’t we, the Body of Christ, have to be like Him? God has given us the power to determine our own outcome… by loving others we are also loved but by condemning others we are also condemned. Our weapon against the enemy of God is our God-given ability to love the unlovable, because He first loved us. Satan expects us to be selfish but it is God’s mercy and kindness that sets us apart from the world. If we are God’s children then we must live according to how our Heavenly Father instructs us, if the wisdom of God is with you then you must also be obedient to His leading.

James 2:18 NLT

(18) Now someone may argue, "Some people have faith; others have good deeds." But I say, "How can you show me your faith if you don't have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds."

Both faith and good deeds are required if we are to prove that we know God and have a personal relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ. For to know of Him is not the only thing that is required by salvation, even the demons know of Him. Do you remember the time when two men who were possessed by many demons and Jesus cast the demons into the herd of pigs? Before Jesus had said a word they screamed out in fear of what Jesus was about to do, that indicates that they knew who Jesus was but obviously that did not save them (read Matthew chapter 8)! But if we love Him we will be compelled to be like Him, we will mimic who He is, as the Holy Spirit leads us. We know from Galatians 5:22-24 what Jesus looks like. In the same way actions alone will not save us either. We can tell the truth and have not the spirit of God within us, even telling others what must be done to be saved but remain in the dark.

Acts 16:16-18 NLT
(16) One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a demon-possessed slave girl. She was a fortune-teller who earned a lot of money for her masters.
(17) She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved."
(18) This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and said to the demon within her, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And instantly it left her.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NLT
(1) If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
(2) If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing.
(3) If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would have gained nothing.

Ultimately this question remains… have you sold all out for Jesus? Would you abandon your greatest possessions to follow Him? You see to carry your cross the way our savior did you must abandon everything, to hold onto something prior to meeting Him means that you are bound to the old life still and cannot go where He will lead you. 

Mark 10:17-21 NLT
(17) As Jesus was starting out on His way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to Him, knelt down, and asked, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
(18) "Why do you call Me good?" Jesus asked. "Only God is truly good.
(19) But to answer your question, you know the commandments: 'You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.'"
(20) "Teacher," the man replied, "I've obeyed all these commandments since I was young."
(21) Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. "There is still one thing you haven't done," He told him. "Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me."

There will be times when faith will require something of you and if you are straddling the fence you’ll end up exposing more than you want to for all to see! Jesus said that if you didn’t love Him completely, like no other, you could not be His disciple. 

Luke 14:26 NLT
(26) "If you want to be My disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be My disciple.

As we come to know Him better through prayer, study of His Word, and obedience He leads us to deeper waters. Not so that we might drown but so that we might crest the horizon of our own understanding. Making the choice to be His is a decision that we make once but growing to be more like Him requires decisions made multiple times throughout the day, for the rest of our lives! And that is why there are seasons in our lives sometimes we chase hard after Him disregarding all else and other times the decision to obey is more difficult which leads us back to needing His mercy but that mercy isn’t just for us, when we are in need but for all and receiving it prepares us to give it away, if we love Him. This is what is meant when Jesus said that healing is the children’s bread, it is mercy that leads to restoration. In Matthew 15:22-28 we see Jesus helping a Gentile woman understand what it means to be merciful but instead of telling her He helped her come to the conclusion on her own. She could have walked away, her need unsatisfied and her feelings hurt but Jesus knows just what each of us can handle and you can be sure that lesson stayed with her the rest of her life.

The Birth of Sin

James 1:13-15 NLT
(13) And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, "God is tempting me." God is never tempted to do wrong, and He never tempts anyone else.
(14) Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.
(15) These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

Sin is a living, growing organism that you can either give birth to or destroy but once it is born instead of you controlling it, it will control you. Like a drug you may think you are in control but it is an illusion and everyone but you will soon see the effects it has on your life. The longer you nurture it the more obvious it becomes to everyone else that the Holy Spirit of God is not in you and the less you care.

Galatians 5:19-21 NLT
(19) When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,
(20) idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,
(21) envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

All of your energy goes into hiding it rather than getting rid of it but because the Holy Spirit of God gives witness to holiness and righteousness the only one you deceive is yourself. Does this not remind you of the drunkard who tries to cover the alcohol on their breath with gum or a mint? Everyone but the one hiding it knows the truth! God’s presence in our lives is known by the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-24 NLT
(22) But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
(23) gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
(24) Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there.

If these spiritual fruits are not present then God does not dwell in you. I’m not talking about judging others but recognizing right from wrong and living with our eyes, our spiritual eyes, wide open in order for us to follow that which cannot be seen. And if we do not feed our spirit with the Word of God then by what means does our spirit have the strength to lead us and if we do not know the One who has walked this path before us how will we know which way to go? Do we depend on our own judgement to decipher between good and evil? 

1 Corinthians 2:10 NLT
(10) But it was to us that God revealed these things by His Spirit. For His Spirit searches out everything and shows us God's deep secrets.

God leads His children by His Holy Spirit but sin covers our spiritual eyes and ears, leaving us separated from God, alone and in the dark not knowing which way to go. It is the plan of salvation that we come to the end of our ways, give up the control we think we have, and surrender it to God so that He may lead us into His marvelous light. This describes the battle field and details the fact that all who follow the Christ… Jesus are indeed warriors, though they may be weak in body and physical strength has left them the measurement they will be known by once their physical bodies are laid to rest is the strength of the spirit within. Sin kills but Jesus gives life! Choose this day whom you will serve.

Joshua 24:15 NLT
(15) But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD."

We all fall but we also all have the God-given grace to turn and follow righteousness and holiness and if we are honest we not only fall once but daily thereby proving our need for Jesus on a moment by moment basis but we being born of a sinful nature struggle to abide with Him at all times therefore we should be mindful of others who struggle as well reminding them not of their own sin but of who Jesus called them to be through the work He has done.

For What Do I Toil

James 1:11-12 NLT

(11) The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements.
(12) God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

When I push my own agenda, when I craft ideals and methods, when I ignore the needs of the many to fulfill my own, who receives glory? Though I label myself “Christian” the one I deceive is not the one I intended. I can live my whole life thinking I am in control but that doesn’t mean it’s so. Be glad that you face trials and test for it is a process, God accepts you the way you are but loves you too much to leave you that way.

Hebrews 12:6-9 NLT

(6) For the LORD disciplines those He loves, and He punishes each one He accepts as His child."
(7) As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as His own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?
(8) If God doesn't discipline you as He does all of His children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really His children at all.
(9) Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn't we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?

If we cannot love and respect our earthly fathers, even with all their faults, at some level our ability to love and respect our Heavenly Father is limited because we have not understood what real love is and therefore what we call love is soiled and stained and not worthy of that which is holy.  

1 John 4:20 NLT

(20) If someone says, "I love God," but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don't love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?

And if we do not love our brothers and sisters how should our achievements prosper us? Let it be known God’s hand will lead and correct if we are truly His. Those who say God blesses without correction are blind and do not know God, for to say this would indicate that this person does not understand their own need for Christ Jesus and though they say that they accept the work Jesus did on the cross they cannot see it is their own crooked heart that put Him there. They have their cake and eat it too, loving themselves because of what they have achieved but rejecting the call of the Holy Spirit to surrender, yet expecting God’s blessing at every corner. This cannot be and therefore they allow themselves to be blinded by the enemy of God so that they might satisfy their own selfish desires. If I toil for the temporary then the accolades I receive will also be temporary but if I toil for what is eternal then thief, nor moth, or rust can take it away.

My Trials

James 1:2-7 NLT

(2) Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.
(3) For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
(4) So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
(5) If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
(6) But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.
(7) Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

We know that by loving God we are compelled to tell others what He has done for us but by doing this we set unaware a target on our backs. Yes the enemy of God is aiming at you Christian for the purpose of hurting God but God has made a way of escape and has not forgotten you. Though we cannot always see it, a door has been opened but before we reach that door we must fight off the snares of the enemy of God. Giving in to selfish desires only prolongs our deliverance but even still the Holy Spirit within us calls us forward, not just for our own good but for the glory of God. Be not dismayed when you stumble but be reminded of who you serve. For if you serve self surely you will die in your sin but if you serve God and do not doubt you cannot lose. Therefore, we are to count all trials as opportunities for great joy knowing that God is near and will not leave us! Walking with God is not always easy Matthew 7:13 Jesus said this, “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.” (NLT). So be determined not to let go of the unseen hand of God for He has promised not to leave you or forsake you. Though we walk through darkness morning is coming and His light will consume all the land. Do not be found serving self when His light shines upon you but carry His light within you so even now in this present darkness the ember of God continues to spread around the world in preparation for that day when Jesus returns.

My burden

Matthew 11:25-30 NLT

(25)  At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: "O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank You for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike.

(26)  Yes, Father, it pleased You to do it this way!

(27)  "My Father has entrusted everything to Me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him."

(28)  Then Jesus said, "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

(29)  Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

(30)  For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."

For those who are religious it is possible to believe the burden of being Christ-like is a heavy one but this is to be a warning sign that you are focused more on self than Jesus. For those who do not take heed to this warning and come back to Christ and who continue on this path soon find compromise as a close companion but this is not what God intended for those He loves. It’s only through having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ can one know that doing as Jesus does is not a liability but your one true source of strength and that is why the yoke Jesus offers is easy to bear and the burden He gives is light.